Report covers standouts among law firms and legal departments offering free legal help
Canadian Lawyer has released its third annual special report celebrating leaders in the pro bono legal landscape, putting the spotlight on this year’s top 10 pro bono firms and five best in-house law groups.
The special report shares that Canada’s five-star pro bono firms are rising to the challenge created by the widespread demand for free legal assistance, contending with systemic barriers, and making the greatest impacts. The publication also shows the importance of pro bono efforts in attaining legal excellence in Canada.
According to the report, low-income individuals may seek the support of pro bono lawyers when struggling with problems such as job losses, evictions, debts, and discrimination. Information in the publication suggests:
Canada’s five-star pro bono law firms for 2025 are Black & Associates; Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP; Borden Ladner Gervais LLP; Lenczner Slaght LLP; McMillan LLP; Norton Rose Fulbright LLP; Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP; Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP; Pink Larkin; and PooranLaw Professional Corporation.
“Knowing your work makes such an incredible difference in the lives of people who otherwise couldn’t help themselves goes a long way in supporting people’s sense of purpose and mental health,” says Katie Black, founder of Black & Associates. “It helps your lawyers feel their practice is worthwhile.”
On the other hand, the in-house law groups that have distinguished themselves in the pro bono arena are from the CIBC legal department, Dentalcorp Health Services Ltd., Shell Canada, the Sun Life legal department, and the Weston and Loblaw legal department.
“When you look at pro bono through the lens of team building, morale, engagement, and professional development, all while doing good, it just makes sense,” says Julian Perez, chief risk and compliance officer of Dentalcorp Health Services Ltd.
Pro Bono Ontario (PBO), a founding supporter of the five-star pro bono firms report, again assisted Canadian Lawyer with producing this year’s special report.
“Our largest program, the free legal advice hotline, was able to answer 29,000 of 200,000 calls last year,” says Kirsti McHenry, PBO executive director. “Every Ontarian deserves meaningful legal help, and every lawyer has a role to play.”
The criteria setting this year’s winners apart include pro bono infrastructure, cost awards or charitable gifts to access-to-justice organizations, whether pro bono time is considered billable (for large/national firms), and whether each lawyer serves at least five hours of pro bono work or at active pro bono programs (for legal departments).
PBO and Canadian Lawyer’s editorial team reviewed the nominations, assessed each submission based on the firm’s or department’s contributions to and impacts on the legal community, and benchmarked the final selections against peer entries.
Canadian Lawyer congratulates this year’s best pro bono law firms. See more information on the awardees.
